Which one?

This is a discussion on Which one? within the C++ Programming forums, part of the General Programming Boards category; I have just recently finished Learn yourself programming in 21 days, and I wonder what you think would be the ...

Which one?

I have just recently finished Learn yourself programming in 21 days, and I wonder what you think would be the best book to continue with. The books I am considering are Programming Windows by Charles Petzold or The C++ Programming Language: Special Edition by Bjarne Stroustrup. Which one of these do you think I should buy first? Or should I buy something else?

Never read either of those, but I would assume that Stroustrup's book would be rather difficult reading (if that helps you in any way). I don't know how long you have been programming in C++, but I would recommend getting pretty familiar with the language before moving to Windows programming.

The only book I can recommend is "The C++ Standard Library" by Nicolai M. Josuttis. It is an excellent reference if you intend to use the STL a lot, or if you just want to learn more about it. In any case, I'm sure someone else here will give you a review of the books you mentioned

Oh, and Josuttis' book is also difficult reading, so you can keep that in mind

Stroustrup and Josuttis are the two best references ever for C++, but as indispensible as they are to me, I don't think either is for beginners. Excellent reading once you have a solid foundation to work from, though, especially Josuttis.

Programming Windows, by Charles Petzold - This is THE Windows programming book to get. Almost every Windows programmer owns this book. It is somewhat tutorial. He assumes you know nothing about Windows programming. But, unlike the "21 Days" books, there are no questions or exercises. The book only covers Windows stuff. You won't learn any more C++. In fact, he only uses C, so there are no classes, STL functions, etc., in his examples. Although Windows programming is complicated, Petzold is more readable than Stroustrup. This book will show you how to make your program look good and have a good user interface. If you want to make your program work well, you'll need another book (or two, or three, or...)

The C++ Programming Language, by Bjarne Stroustrup - (I don't think I have the Special Edition of this book.) This book is difficult to understand. It's like I'm reading a book on brain surgery, and I don't know biology, physiology, or the terminology. I think it's written for advanced Computer Science students. It is cool having a book by the creator of C++! And, sometimes I use it as a reference.

The C++ Standard Library, by Nicolai M. Josuttis - This book should be called The C++ Standard Template Library, because it mostly covers the STL. Like JaWiB said, it is an excellent reference to the STL. I believe it is a complete reference to all of the STL functions. I think it's a good next-book after "21 Days". However, like Petzold's book, there are no questions or exercises.